To determine what happens to a student's reading interests in an open classroom setting, three studies were conducted into the expressed reading interests of 1,078 first and second grade children in twelve public schools located in the urban and suburban areas of New York, Detroit, and Los Angeles. The children were interviewed individually and…

A review of research in the three areas of response to literature, reading interests, and the teaching of literature is presented. Each category of study is discussed in a separate chapter, with a bibliography included at the end of the chapter. In evaluating each study, the authors focus on the question with which it deals and its conceptual…

A survey conducted individually with 50 retired adult readers (10 males and 40 females), who are middle or upper-middle class former professionals, was made in central New Jersey to determine their reading choices and to compare personal factors of sex, physical condition, and social activity with the number of books read in a six month period. Of…

Comprehension and interest were high when children read stories where nontraditional sex role behavior was perceived to be appropriate to the action of the story. (MKM)

Examines some national surveys that are in the ERIC data base that provide information about the reading habits and preferences of American readers. (HOD)

Reviews studies dealing with dyslexia, reading development, and reading materials and interests. (DF)

Notes that while teachers see the value of reading, they personally prefer to watch television in their leisure time. In addition, they prefer to engage their students in independent activities not necessarily related to reading tasks than to encourage them to read books or listen to books being read. (FL)

A study examined how, when, and under what conditions severe dyslexics developed high literacy skills, as well as the role of gender differences in literacy development and professional success. Subjects were 60 highly successful dyslexic adults (30 men and 30 women) and 10 nondyslexic male and female normative controls. Results indicated that…

The purpose of this study was to determine whether a student's level of interest in a nonfiction topic affects his or her comprehension of that topic. An additional objective was to find out if the student's ability level had an impact on this interest-comprehension relationship. Three first graders (one low, one average, and one high ability)…

Argues that interest is as potent a factor in reading comprehension as is difficulty, calling for a serious reconsideration and revision of both the philosophy and strategy of the Informal Reading Inventory. (RB)

First graders have demonstrated and identified preferred content in primary reading textbooks in response to single pairs of stories of five content factors." Statistical tables and extensive secondary literature included. (Author/SP)

Based on a survey of the reading background of students enrolled in a college freshman composition course, the author questions the adolescent reading list compiled by G. Robert Carlsen. (HOD)

Notes that the terms "interest" and "preference" are often used interchangeably in reading research. Points out that both the sources and uses of data are clearer when the differences in the two terms are emphasized. (FL)